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Post by Helmut83 on Feb 10, 2018 6:07:42 GMT
I'll try to make a ranking of my own.
1. Spartacus (10/10): if when watching the first episode you had told me I'd get to love this series to bits I would have never believed it as everything in it looked so cheap, tacky and even ridiculous. Also, it gives a shit about the real history of Spartacus, as I've read books about him and the series doesn't even make an effort to remotely match what history says. However, no other series got me so involved and made me love and hate the characters as much as this one. I think it's superb.
2. Hatfields & McCoys (10/10): miniseries about the famous feud that took place in East USA in the 19th Century (it's on Netflix). Everything in it got stuck in my mind. I found out later on how the true story was and except for a minor detail, everything in the series was exactly the same, which makes it all the more interesting and shocking.
3. Game of Thrones (9/10): good plot (even if in a few seasons it beats around the bush too much), great characters, similarity with medieval Europe. I didn't get to love the good guys as much as I got to hate the baddies. All in all great series, gets me wanting to watch the next episode every time one finishes.
4. The Tudors (9/10): it's not about the whole dinasty but just about Henry VIII. I think the key for this one being so good is that it was tremendously full of evil characters. In fact there were hardly any good ones, so it was all evil vs. evil, which made it really interesting.
5. Rome (8/10): I think there are two series called this way. This one is the older one. Though the main characters (Julius Caesar, Octavian, Pompeii, Marc Anthony, etc...) are nothing like history says they were, it's the feminine characters who steal the show. Rome must have been a snakes' nest and that is very well depicted here.
6. The fucking end of the world (7/10): it doesn't have much pretensions, and maybe that's why I found this series about two weird teenagers (boy and girl) escaping together from their homes quite entertaining. It has a fair share of British humour.
7. Vikings (7/10): quite overrated in my opinion. They had everything to make an awesome story: history, great landscapes, good actors, the legend of the vikings... Instead they chose to waste half the time the show is on in pointless mystic rambles about the viking and christian god(s).
8. Inside the Dome (6/10): tells the adventures of a group of people in a fictional town somewhere in the US over which falls a transparent dome from which they can't escape. At first it's entertaining, but then it becomes apparent that the plot hasn't been planned since the beginning but they went adding more and more pieces to it as it went, making it a mess. I went losing interest gradually as it progressed.
9. Lost Kingdom (5/10): a similar historic setting to "Vikings". Not sure if it's because actors are bad, the plot is not good or the characters didn't get to me, but this one did nothing for me. While it wasn't plainly bad, it was not even a bit good. Totally "meh".
10. The 100 (3/10): the only reason I kept watching this series is that there are many very beautiful ladies in it, otherwise it's a complete waste of time.
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Post by Timeblue on Feb 10, 2018 13:15:07 GMT
All are on Netflix. Right now, what I fall to sleep to is: “Someone Feed Phil”. Not sure who the guy is. I think he wrote, produced some hit TV shows. Phil travels to other countries in search of their local cuisine. He’s so full of joy when experiencing a new food and meeting people. He's not shy. I think this show is tops in this category.
“Call My Agent” an Italian series. Agents dealing with actors, models. Very funny, well written.
Watching now: “Episodes” It's about the television industry. This one has Matt LaBlanc in it. He plays himself. He's wonderful. I’ve seen “Friends” enough to understand when they refer to “Joey”. Very well written. Smart and laugh out loud. Everyone is cast perfect. Matt plays an actor in a comedy series. The writers had a hit show in the UK and flew over to do a version of it in America (Like "The Office"). With all the meddling it's nothing like the UK show. The leading lady was in an UK comedy called “Black Books” (I think that’s the title. This is a fun show, too.)
I got bored with “Pikey Blinders”.
“Dreamland” Urban planners in Australia. GREAT! Clever. Dysfunctional office life at its best! Dave can’t watch it because of this.
“The Royle Family” UK show. Watched it last winter before I got out of bed in the mornings. I love it. A lower-class family’s life happens in their living room with the TV on as a distraction. Friends and neighbors slide thorough. It's just a comfortable show to watch.
“Nurse Jackie” An emergency department nurse addicted to pain pills and you wonder what she’s going to do next to try and maintain her working and home life. She’s very good at her job and is looked up to, but boy does she screw people over. Comedy-drama. Edie Falco, is brilliant, as are the other actors who play doctors, nurses, administrators. My sister worked in a hospital and told me that so much of what happens in the show is true. You get sucked in.
Watching now. “The Windsor’s”. Hilarious! Wicked parody of Wills, Kate, Chas, Camilla, and others. This one is my morning show at the moment.
Thought you were talking about making me a cake again when you mentioned ''someone feed Phil' ( my name....) Glad you like 'The Royale Family' but it's a comedy that I wouldn't expect to translate well for the US audience.
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Post by elophile on Feb 10, 2018 13:17:38 GMT
My favorite shows that I've been watching season after season are: Better Call Saul 10/10 Fargo 9/10 Endeavor 9/10 I also really enjoyed the first season of Westworld (looking forward to it coming back) Oh, and I really liked Orphan Black but it lost me after a while. A close friend of mine recommended me "Better Call Saul" a lot. Now that I've got a second opinion which coincides with his, I might have to add it to my list. It's really good. Did you watch Breaking Bad?
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Post by elophile on Feb 10, 2018 13:26:22 GMT
10. The 100 (3/10): the only reason I kept watching this series is that there are many very beautiful ladies in it, otherwise it's a complete waste of time. I'm this way about shows that have beautiful vintage clothes. I watched The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and don't get me wrong, it's a realy good show... but the clothes... there are other things in this world besides Jeff that make me drool. This outfit for example. Now I NEED red shorts like these. BTW, Helmut83 the actress in this show has a really cute figure...
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Post by eloneen on Feb 10, 2018 13:37:13 GMT
I'm impressed! I wish I had a list to share. Confession: I've never watched any of the shows mentioned in this thread except for a few episodes of "Friends" years ago. Never seen "Breaking Bad," "Game of Thrones," etc. I will occasionally watch an episode of the sitcoms "Black-ish" or "Modern Family," but I would definitely not call myself a regular viewer of either program. I've never been much of a TV watcher, even though people tell me all about these great shows. I believe them, but something about actually watching TV and being drawn into a program doesn't appeal to me on a consistent basis unless it's news or some random documentary...Weird, I guess (dull, maybe?), but I can listen to public radio all day, every day, and even leave the TV news on all the time...
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Post by Helmut83 on Feb 10, 2018 17:33:28 GMT
It's really good. Did you watch Breaking Bad? No, I didn't. BTW, Helmut83 the actress in this show has a really cute figure... Yeah, I've noticed. And I'm not the only one: look at the way the two gentlemen behind her were staring at her. eloneen : I don't see why you should wish it was otherwise, it's not like you are missing an important thing, at least in my opinion. TV series culture is quite a cheap kind of culture to have. It's like mythology: getting to know things that others imagined but never really happened in the real world. It's good for entertainment, but I don't think it makes you much wiser. A good documentary will leave you way more knowledge about things that actually happened and matter more.
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Post by eloneen on Feb 10, 2018 17:39:06 GMT
Helmut83 Yes, but, like with mythology, a lack of familiarity with the cultural references can sometimes be a social/cultural handicap.
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Post by Helmut83 on Feb 10, 2018 17:45:58 GMT
You are right about that. It happens to me as well, at times everyone gets talking about, say, "Breaking Bad" (which apparently everyone but myself has seen), and I'm just there waiting for them to finish the conversation.
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Post by eloneen on Feb 10, 2018 17:53:16 GMT
You are right about that. It happens to me as well, at times everyone gets talking about, say, "Breaking Bad" (which apparently everyone but myself has seen), and I'm just there waiting for them to finish the conversation. Sometimes I just ask my husband about it later or look it up online if it seems really interesting and I'm actually curious, but usually, I'm content to listen and wait for the conversation to turn to something else. Oh, well. No big deal.
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Post by Chippa on Feb 10, 2018 18:40:00 GMT
I just rewatched The Sopranos, recently, and I'm convinced it was the best written show on television. I grew up around those people depicted in the series, and it's insanely accurate.
I also binge watched Marvel's Jessica Jones a couple of years ago, and really enjoyed it.
The only current series I watch is The Americans, which will be starting it's series finale in March.Highly recommended if you like anything about espionage and the 1980's political landscape.
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Post by BSJ on Feb 10, 2018 19:44:39 GMT
"Better Call Saul" A scam artist in his early years before he became a criminal lawyer with low morals. He’s always trying to go legit but keeps being pulled back to the dark side because of his association with criminals. Dramatic and funny. I almost didn’t watch "Breaking Bad". I saw part of an episode that was very violent. Thought, I can’t sit through this. Because Bryan Cranston is in it, who I first saw in a few episodes of “Seinfeld” and then the father in “Malcom In The Middle”, I had to try it. All in all, I'd rather watch comedies now. Helmut83 , I wish my Phil, like TV Phil, would eat any meal I make him the first time. His taste changes day to day. Like waiting on the Lord of the manor. God love him. Since we got Netflex I watch more then I use to because the shows are better. I don’t know what’s on the regular stations. Timeblue , Like Helmut, I really enjoy British humor. Different way of life and points of view. A lot of people I know doesn’t get it. Poor timeblue. Seems every time you get on the forum you expect to see me approaching you with a heart stopping cake! OH! Forgot “Absolutely Fabulous”! With all due respect to eloneen . I'd rather go to the dentist than watch the news. I like reading about what's going on once a week on Sundays. It's not beat to death.
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Post by eloneen on Feb 10, 2018 21:07:49 GMT
With all due respect to eloneen . I'd rather go to the dentist than watch the news. I like reading about what's going on once a week on Sundays. It's not beat to death. Oh, I completely understand, BSJ. Hubby thinks I should be completely stressed out because of all the news, but it doesn't affect me that way at all. It keeps me anchored in the grown-up world after dealing with kids all the time. As for going to the dentist, I actually don't mind that either. My dentist is a nice guy from New Orleans who is about my age. Hubby and I both have a very pleasant time when we go to see him. I like liver (since I was 4!)... and eggplant... and I didn't like recess at school as a kid. Go figure! I'm just weird, but hey, I'm lovable.
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Post by BSJ on Feb 10, 2018 21:18:04 GMT
I couldn't stand hearing the TV on all day, or people constantly talking for long periods of time. It's too distracting. I've a neighbor who has a TV on in her living room, kitchen and bedroom all day, so she doesn't miss a thing. No, I'm going for the weird
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Post by eloneen on Feb 10, 2018 21:21:27 GMT
I only like it on all day if it's news. If it's anything else and it's on when no one's watching, THAT drives me up the wall, and I immediately turn it off or turn to news. Go figure!
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Post by unomusette on Feb 10, 2018 22:02:47 GMT
I'd agree with Game of Thrones, from Helmut83's list, and The Windsors from BSJ's Would have to add Flight of the Conchords (perfectly hilarious sitcom about Brett and Jemaine, New Zealand's second best folk group, living in New York managed by a bureaucratic nutter in the New Zealand Embassy and with one obsessed fan - squillions out of ten for this as not only is it very funny but the songs are total masterpieces) Father Ted (Another billion out of ten, seen every episode huge amounts of times. Pokes lots of fun at religion with fantastic characters, complete classic) Satellite City and High Hopes (Both comedy series based in South Wales, if you live here they are spot on funny and deserve millions out of ten) Green Wing (Surreal and extremely funny medical comedy including the actress in Episodes, mentioned in BSJ's list. Defies description really but a real must see, it only loses points for not having a proper ending, just a rather whimsical one, but having seen what came before I should have expected that)
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